THREE officers involved in the search and rescue for the Batang Kali landslide victims were either taken ill or injured yesterday but their condition is stable, police said today.

Hulu Selangor district police chief Suffian Abdullah said they were Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis, a fireman who was suffering from health complications, and a Civil Defence Force officer who twisted his leg but was discharged from hospital this morning.

“I hope we can all pray for the recovery of these three officers and the safety of other rescuers involved in the operations,” he told a press conference in Batang Kali.

Norazam was rushed to Selayang Hospital after he was overcome by fatigue and suffered a minor stroke.

Suffian, who is the disaster operations commander, said police could not disclose the identities of the nine campers who are still missing after the landslide at the Father’s Organic Farm in Gohtong Jaya on Friday.

“Maybe we can reveal their identities later. The matter is still under police investigation,” he added.

He said families of the missing victims could lodge reports at the nearest police station.

So far police had received only two reports about family members who had gone missing in the incident, he said.

On the seven vehicles swept away in the landslide, Suffian said the remaining two owners had been identified – a worker at the farm and a company.

Yesterday, he said the owners of five vehicles had been identified – two of whom died in the landslide, two survived and one is still missing.

He said there were no positive developments from yesterday’s search, with nine victims still unaccounted for.

The tragedy has so far claimed 24 lives while 61 people were rescued. – Bernama, December 20, 2022.